Backyard gardener: York Corner Gardens now growing crop out back

Wednesday

Jul 27, 2011 at 2:00 AM

After years of buying and selling produce for York Corner Gardens, David Coombs is selling his own crops — grown from behind the Route 1 vegetable stand in soil that hasn't been worked in more than 50 years.

JOANNE TERRASI

After years of buying and selling produce for York Corner Gardens, David Coombs is selling his own crops — grown from behind the Route 1 vegetable stand in soil that hasn't been worked in more than 50 years.

Since Coombs began operating York Corner Gardens 13 years ago, he has been tenderly nurturing the back field with cover crops; winter rye to keep erosion from taking the field and clover to feed it.

"I'm not a professional," Coombs said. "I get a lot of advice from local farmers."

Two years ago Coombs bought a tractor, intending to farm half of the 2-acre property.

"I knew if I were to go this big, I would need a tractor to row things up and cultivate," he said.

John Zacharias of Zach's Farm on Birch Hill Road convinced Coombs to try drip irrigation on the garden containing eight 100-foot rows of everything from tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant and cabbage, to sunflowers, zinnias, asters and snapdragons.

"Cleome is blooming, and the kale is already on shelves," Coombs said.

Bill Connolly of Connolly Organics in York has sold to Coombs and said "stuff flies off the shelves."

"Dave has been in the business a long time, and he's very knowledgeable," he said.

The distinctive vegetable stand, accented with Coombs' colorfully hand-painted signs, has been around since 1938. Andrew Franklin began the business in 1940 with 11 acres of crop, stretching back to the York Golf and Tennis Club on Organug Road.

Farming ceased after his death in 1952, when his son Jerry Franklin inherited the business and sold all but 2 acres of the land, according to Coombs.

Jerry Franklin died in 1998, leaving the property to his nephew, Rick Franklin who leases the business to Coombs.

"I couldn't have found a better guy to take over the property," Franklin said.

Coombs is energetic, enthusiastic and has become a community icon — along with his 7-year-old Labrador Boxer, Pearl, who patrols the stand, letting kids feed her biscuits.

With witty retorts and a signature smile, Coombs entertains. He's a vocalist and guitarist for a local bluegrass band called Lobster Creek, and it's not unusual for him pull his ukulele from the plywood memorabilia wall to serenade customers with a Johnny Cash song.

"The personality that place has ... ," Connolly said.

Seven days a week from the first day in May until the last Christmas tree is sold in December, the 50-year-old Massachusetts native can be seen out front tending to and nibbling his produce.

On market days he arrives at the stand at 3:45 a.m., after having traveled to the N.E. Produce Center in Chelsea, Mass., (without a list) to select produce from more than 50 vendors.

The stand is known for its selection and competitive pricing and is well attended all season long.

Coombs carries limited grocery items, such as honey and granola, and likes to buy local.

Around 6:30 p.m., before he heads into the field, he stocks the walk-in cooler with tender produce.

"I love crawling around the weeds where no one can find me," he said.

If a customer wanders in after closing, they are welcomed with a smile.

"Hi folks, come on in I'm just packing up," he'll say.

Coombs turned 50 this month and lives in North Berwick. He has a daughter Chelsea, 20, and son Christopher, 21. He is one of 10 kids and landed his first job in a North Beverly, Mass., produce market at age 14.

"I'd march the kids around the store with rhubarb," he said. "I have always had a good time doing this."

Minna Goldstein, 65, said she has visited the stand every year. She was born and raised in York, but now lives in Phoenix, Ariz., and when she returned home this summer for her birthday, she brought her two teenage nieces who "have never seen a place like this."

"It brings you back in time," she said. "This is York — this is what you expect."

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